5 of the most lethal partnerships in Ashes history

#3 Ian Botham-Bob Willis

Ian Botham and Bob Willis

One was an all-rounder and the other was a fast bowler, but when Ian Botham and Bob Willis teamed up for England in the Ashes, they often proved to be absolutely lethal. They played together for England for around seven years and were instrumental to England's three Ashes victories out of the four played in that period.

Botham and Willis are first and second respectively among English wicket-takers in Ashes history. They formed one of the deadliest bowling combinations that Australia has ever faced.

The pair's finest hour came in the Headingley Test in the 1981 Ashes when Botham struck a superb 149 to dig England out of a hole after it had been asked to follow-on. Willis then went on to take eight wickets in Australia's fourth innings and fashioned one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Test cricket history.